Well there's another choice, hybrid gas powered electric vehicles, utilizing gas powered ceramic fuel cells? Particularly if those cells can be improved to be far more robust?

In which case most of the emission will be pristine water vapor. And given the lack of need to carry half a ton of batteries and an 80% energy coefficient, arguably less costly and more economical? We have copious gas?

Other electric vehicles will still need to be charged overnight, and may face the same conundrum as farmers, who've seen their irrigation water costs rise exponentially sine 2006, when a gigalitre of water cost $40.00, to now $140.00 thanks to a corresponding rise of around 126% during the same period for coal fired power?

However, new battery technology and reduced charging times to say 5 minutes for an 80% fast charge may put the electric car up there with gasoline powered variants?

But what point if we charge them with coal fired power? To that end we need green energy, and that green energy, [which is accepted, we're told, by around half the green movement,] is the new super fuel, thorium.

Type the case for thorium into your search engine, then scroll down to a free PDF on it, replete with diagrams; or just visit google tech talks and listen to the Author of Super Fuel make an irrevocable case for thorium as green energy!

My bet is big oil won't like that or the electric cars it may well power into the future, where economies of scale and driving range may see oil powered vehicles, go the way of the Dodo?

We can already comparatively cheaply convert current petrol powered cars to electric. with a commuting range. What else do we need? High speed rail? Nuclear powered fast ferries?

Incidentally, Brazil may have thorium power before we do? But then may be governed by superior intellects? not captive to American/OPEC vested interest?

Thorium may well be just what we need to generate commercial quantities of affordable hydrogen as endlessly sustainable fuel, economically? Alan B.

Posted by Alan B., Monday, 8 May 2017 9:39:15 AM

Pipe dreams and thorium. At least 30 years in the making.

Posted by doog, Monday, 8 May 2017 2:40:06 PM

Think so Doog?

Obviously incapable of getting on google tech talks to touch base with the facts on thorium or reading a downloadable (the case for thorium) scientific paper (PDF) on the subject?

We're not talking pipe dreams but are relying on established facts glean from the extremely well documented, trouble free operation of a walk away safe, molten salt thorium power reactor. operated at Oak Ridge Tennessee, between 1956 and 1976. Quote unquote.

The Author of super fuel, sub titled green energy, is an award winning accredited Journalist, and as such is bound to thoroughly research, fact check and validate his material.

The only pipe dream I[m having is that you'll check your facts or engage brain before putting mouth into gear. before casting your pearls of wisdom on us mere mortals.

The free downloadable PDF, argues that a 230 MW version is doable in around ten years? Approximately the time our coal fired power plants will need to be decommissioned.

Perhaps your incredible knowledge is superior to a couple of dozen highly credentialed nuclear scientists? They are all wrong or just pipe dreamers and you alone are right? Is that your claim?

Try financing a coal fired power station today! Bankers may not be the brightest, but most seem to realize that investing in coal is flogging a dead horse!

You remind me of that old timer who upon seeing his first motorcar chortled, they'll never catch on.

Between the pair of us, I'll bet I'm the only one who has worked with radioactive material daily, and has some actual working knowledge on the topic?

Not for nothing is it writ large, there are none so blind as those who will not see! Alan B.